A top Chinese agriculture official says the world’s most populous nation will continue research into genetically engineered crops, and will assure the safety of the technology, Reuters reports. The official spoke after the release of the “number one document,” an annual report that focuses on agriculture. The report “called for strengthening of GMO research and safe management of the technology,” according to Reuters. It was the first time the document discussed GE crops, a topic of debate in Chinese society. The government has poured vast sums of money into GE research but has not approved GE crops for feed or food use due to consumer concerns about them. “Its position is also thought to be impacting the approval for import of genetically modified crops, which faces long delays,” the article said.
At an annual bilateral meeting last year, U.S. and Chinese trade and agriculture officials discussed the question of speedier review by China of GE crops that have been approved in other nations. U.S. corn sales to China, for instance, were disrupted throughout 2014 because China would not accept a GE corn variety developed by Syngenta.